Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

When a news story proclaimed Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict the team's new defensive leader over the summer, we couldn't help but have a little fun with it, since "natural leadership qualities" haven't exactly been the most noticeable of the hotheaded All-American's abundant gifts.

According to the Republic, Burfict waited for Ozier in the Sun Devil locker room following an argument during practice, and each player exchanged punches (Burfict's coming first) before the fight was broken up.

Though the website Sports by Brooks implied Burfict could have been withheld from the program's recent media day and had seen a magazine photo shoot canceled because of the incident, ASU spokesman Mark Brand called many of the site's reports "completely false." Burfict has not missed any practice time and what punishment he's received, if any, is being handled in-house.

In fact, if this wasn't Burfict, this would likely be just another "boys will be boys" story that appeared in a local beat writer's notebook and was ignored everywhere outside of Tempe. But because the player in question is Burfict, with his towering talent and temperamental history, it's much more than that. It's common knowledge that if Burfict can just get his emotions under control on the field this fall, the Sun Devils stand an excellent chance of winning the inaugural Pac-12 South title and of turning around Erickson's stagnating program. So it's not surprising that every move Burfict makes in camp is going to be watched.

And unfortunately for the Sun Devils, this latest move does make it seem much less likely that Burfict will, in fact, keep his emotions in check. The question has to be asked: if he can't keep his temper when dealing with his own teammate, how is he supposed to do it with his opponents?

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

Get real ASU Devil. The guy has a problem when he assaults a team mate IN THE LOCKER ROOM for something that happened on the practice field. &nbsp;

Since: May 22, 2008

Posted on: August 9, 2011 5:06 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

First of all as the writer of this and other articles points out if it wasn't about Burfict, no one would notice this incident. Second the reason this is even being talked about is because people only want to highlight photos like the one attached to this article. No one wants to look at all the phantom calls against VB including those where the opposition were blatanly, in front of refs, committing personal fouls and they would call them on it, only to throw a flag if VB held his hands up in asking why.

This kid is no thug. He plays violently and with emotion on the field but off the field the worst he has done is not give interviews, which is one thing that the media hates. If they don't have full access they will commit character assassination until you submit to an interview to set them straight.

Here is a link to one interview he did give recently:

Read that and them judge him, as if we ever have that right.

Since: Aug 9, 2011

Posted on: August 9, 2011 12:36 am

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

Way to dodge the fact that a player Premeditatedly ASSAULTED a teammate. I am sure you know why this is newsworthy...just tough to accept.

Since: Sep 13, 2006

Posted on: August 9, 2011 12:23 am

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

Sounds like you might be a little ignorant to the situation and the player. Burfict is a beast on the field, a top 10 nfl draft talent who is still a young man that makes mistakes like anyone else. Because of who he is, everything is magnified that much more and made to look alot worse than what it actually was. This kind of thing happens all the time in football and other sports, teammates that are best friends come to blows and make up afterwards. Get over the story, its just a writer trying to make a name for himself....Burfict isnt a thug, last I checked, he was a university student playing football, not a crack dealer beating up on high school kids, stealing from old ladies, abusing women or being a menace to society....thats a thug.

Since: Dec 7, 2008

Posted on: August 8, 2011 11:14 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

smchap, sounds like he is just a typical thug.

Since: Oct 1, 2006

Posted on: August 8, 2011 9:28 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

The media reports it was in the locker room but was the media in the locker room after a practice? I doubt it. What I do expect that after a few people probably players talk about the incident outside the locker room the story naturally gets embellished. So the headline could have said Burfict pushes, shoves, or pokes in the chest with his finger ASU teammate. Maybe the sophomore receiver was talking trash to a team leader and the team leader had to establish his authority. Basically a lot of nothing important here. Neither player was taken to the hospital for injuries.

Since: May 19, 2010

Posted on: August 8, 2011 6:47 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

MJ punched teammates and the Bulls were fine

Since: Dec 20, 2006

Posted on: August 8, 2011 5:54 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

Coache's stop covering up for good Athletes. They will never learn the true meaning of sportsmanship, honor and respect. If you dont teach them when they make a mistake. Instead we just turn a blind shoulder to the facts. When these young men become adults what did they learn on the path of life? and what did you teach them besides a 4-3 Defense?

Since: Sep 11, 2007

Posted on: August 8, 2011 5:08 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

this idiot is a trainwreck waiting to happen no way he makes it thru this season and not because of injury

Since: Jan 4, 2007

Posted on: August 8, 2011 4:16 pm

Report: Vontaze Burfict punched ASU teammate

fights happen alot on the field and locker room no big deal for the most part, but this guy Burfict he's a thug he showed it on the field last year